Pro athletes, veterans share history of concussions, depression

New Eisenhower Center combines physical, mental, social rehabilitation

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A new residential treatment center brought together military veterans and NFL players to share their experiences with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and brain injuries, such as concussions.

Eric Hipple, former quarterback of the Detroit Lions, is the NFL outreach coordinator for the Eisenhower Center, which treats adults with neurotrauma.

"You have the identity of wearing a uniform ... the high of having people scream your name," Hipple said. "Everything's taken care of, and then the day you're gone, it's like all the trauma resurfaces."

Hipple said retiring from the gridiron wasn't easy. It's not just concussions, but mental health issues that Hipple said many professional athletes go through untreated, as do military veterans who have a difficult time making the transition to civilian life.

"I slumped off into a depression, jumped out of a car going 80 miles an hour (that) my wife was driving. Woke up in a hospital," Hipple said.

Donald McAlister said he spent 24 years in the Army and sees the similarities between football players and military veterans. He admits he needed treatment for depression after he retired.

"There's a lot of hidden wounds out there, and as a soldier, you're taught to suck it up, and a lot of them do that," McAlister said.

Hipple was at the Eisenhower Center's new location in the Beachwood area of Jacksonville, which officially opens Monday.

Directors of the program found athletes and veterans could relate and open up to each other about their mental health issues during the 30-day rehab treatment at its Michigan location, so the company brought the program to Jacksonville.

Therapists use physical, mental and social rehabilitation to speed up their recovery.

"Places like this can help you cope and put you in the environment that gives you those coping mechanisms," McAlister said.

The Eisenhower Center opens on Monday. For more information, visit EisenhowerCenter.com.